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Big buzz about no-buzz drinking After finding the availability of low- and no-alcohol beverages lacking, Winnipeg couple launched the Søbr Market
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Whether it be Dry January, Dry February, Sober October or just a desire for better health and a break from booze, there are plenty of reasons to consider reducing one’s alcohol intake.
Add in the fact that studies have been indicating millennials are drinking less than older generations, and there’s never been more need for alcohol-free alternatives to wine, beer and spirits that aren’t coffee, pop, water or juice.
Enter the Søbr Market, a Winnipeg-based online one-stop shop for non-alcoholic drinks. Run by the husband-and-wife team of Shane and Jessie Halliburton, the store offers a range of zero/low-alcohol (0.5 per cent by volume or less) beverages from all corners of the globe — and, unlike most options currently available locally, they are both interesting and quite tasty.
Shane Halliburton stopped drinking alcohol 16 months ago, but found the non-alcoholic options available here were lacking. “I started looking all over, ordering from far away, from the U.S. and Europe, paying way too much,” he explains, laughing. “And eventually, that led to the idea of starting a business — because there are probably other people looking for this kind of stuff too.”
That idea led Halliburton, who had been in project management in construction, to start the Søbr Market in June 2022. Wife Jessie helped out while on maternity leave from her job as an administrative officer with the WRHA; rather than return to work at the beginning of 2023, she’s now working alongside Shane full time on the business.
When it comes to sourcing products, it’s all about how good the Halliburtons think the product tastes.
“We search online, find out who’s making what where, order it and taste it and then decide what we’re actually going to pursue and bring in,” Shane says. The Søbr Market now features more than 300 products for sale at thesobrmarket.com, including non-alcoholic wine, beer and spirits, as well as other alcohol-free beverages.
Since starting up, the pair have been busy pouring at various markets, pop-ups and trade shows, allowing people try before they buy — which, in a market still new to the many developments in the zero/low-alcohol market, has been key.
Pouring for the public also offers the chance to connect with others who have stopped drinking, never drank alcohol, are sober-curious or are taking a break. “People see a big Søbr Market sign, and they feel comfortable to come up and start talking about their story, why they’re not consuming,” Jessie says. “I feel for the parents who have talked to us about their 18-year-old daughters who are like, ‘I don’t want to drink alcohol’ — but the pressure is there.”
On a purely visual level, many of the Søbr Market’s non-alcoholic beers and pre-mixed cocktails could easily be mistaken for the “real” (read: alcoholic) deal, which is helpful in these kinds of situations. “No one really is going to be the wiser, because they look the part. And a lot of them even taste the part,” says Jessie. “It’s just been great to meet people and have these conversations about destigmatizing the choice to not consume alcohol.”
While some of the wine, beer and spirits replacements taste pretty darn close to their boozier counterparts, others have been made to simply be their own thing — a delcious and often healthier alternative to alcoholic drinks. “I think the biggest thing we like to tell people is try and come in with an open mind — don’t come up with an expectation that it is going to taste exactly like what you were consuming,” says Jessie.
In addition to selling from their website, in early January The Søbr Market locked in deals with Cottontail Cannabis Co. on Corydon Avenue, Wolseley Kombucha on Wall Street and Black Market Provisions on Osborne Street to carry a curated selection of their products.
They also recently collaborated on a zero-alcohol cocktail workshop with One Sixteen, the tap room for Good Neighbour Brewing Co., who also make their own non-alcoholic sparkling hop water. The event quickly sold out, proving there’s a thirst to learn more about making thoughtful, booze-free cocktails beyond the simple virgin margarita or Shirley Temple.
So far there have been no runaway bestsellers, but a number of categories have been performing well. “Wine was really big over the holidays,” Jessie says, adding they were filling about 50 customer orders a week in December. “Otherwise it’s been pretty even across the board. You get people who are just looking for products that have premium ingredients in them — no sugars or no added sugars, things like that. Then you find people that are looking for the spirit alternatives, wine alternatives… As far as spirits go, it’s often about whisky, and whether we have something that can replace it.” Shane adds that the pre-mixed cocktails have also been selling briskly.
While the selection of zero-alcohol products at private wine stores has been improving over the last couple of years, options available at big grocery stores and Liquor Marts are less inspiring. “They’re kind of going to do what they’re gonna do — and that’s completely fine,” Jessie says. “With Shane doing a lot of our sourcing and importing himself, he’s looking for those products that are new, are unique and have great reviews.”
Beyond selling to Winnipeggers, The Søbr Market offers shipping across Canada and into the U.S., as they’re not restricted by the same regulations that govern the movement of alcohol. “We have stock of items that you can’t get in the States right now; especially some of the wines, which aren’t in the U.S. market yet,” Jessie says, adding that shipping low- or no-alcohol drinks can be tricky because they freeze easier than regular wine, beer or spirits.
For 2023, the big project for The Søbr Market will be opening their own bricks-and-mortar storefront in Winnipeg — an endeavour they’re close to finalizing and announcing. “It seems like Winnipeggers really want a place to see stuff in person,” says Shane. “We’ve had a lot of other people in the industry say we should just stay online — it’s the easiest thing to do. But it seems Winnipeg has a strong desire to physically hold things.”
With both the Halliburtons now working full time at The Søbr Market, they’re also hoping they can expand into wholesale distribution, supplying more products to other local retailers. “December was crazy busy for customer orders; since January started we’ve had a lot more wholesale inquiries,” Shane says.
“The one thing we can say about the Winnipeg community is that everyone has been extremely supportive,” adds Jessie. “We’ve had lots of businesses reach out and say, ‘Thank you, we love what you’re doing — here’s a shelf in my store, come stock it for me.’”
No booze? No problem
All products listed below are available from The Søbr Market (except where noted).
Athletic Brewing Co. Superfood Swell non-alcoholic IPA (Stratford, Conn. — $3.49/355ml can)
Features organic Vienna malt, mango and pineapple puree, wheat, hops, yeast and malted barley; pale gold and hazy, with big tropical fruit aromas with underlying hoppiness. Mainly dry, light-plus bodied, big tropical flavours with nice bitterness from the hops. Delicious.
One for the Road Brewing Co. Got Hops? IPA (Calgary — $3.99/473ml can)
Pale gold in colour and frothy, with grassy and subtle citrus aromas from the hops, as well as the underlying malt note. The citrus is prominent on the dry, light-bodied palate, with the bite from the hops persisting throughout, delivering some zip to go with the malty flavour. Crisp and clean.
Mavrik Storm & Spice (Winchester, U.K. — $6.99/250ml can)
This take on the dark and stormy brings citrus, molasses and ginger aromas. The latter brings spicy flavours along with citrus notes and lively effervescence that make for an intense, delicious drink. Serve this excellent drink over ice with a slice of lime.
Crisp & Crude Gold Fashioned (Austin, Texas — $34/4x250ml cans)
This non-alcoholic cocktail “with botanical terpenes” brings wood barrel and orange peel aromas like a real-deal old fashioned. There’s almost an iced tea component that comes through on the palate, with just a hint of sweetness and a long, spicy finish. Tasty.
Parch Spirits Spiced Piñarita (Tucson, Ariz. – $6.49/250ml can)
A non-alcoholic agave cocktail “infused with desert botanicals and adaptogens” as well as cayenne pepper, roasted pineapple and lime, the Parch delivers loads of pineapple and spice aromas. It’s light-bodied, modestly carbonated and medium-sweet, with intense pineapple flavours coming with a hit of cayenne and a long, spicy finish. Well done.
Lautus Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa — $20-25, private wine stores and The Søbr Market)
Crisp green apple and some citrus come through aromatically here, with a hint of grassiness that’s textbook Sauvignon Blanc. There’s a touch of sweetness on the light-bodied palate and it doesn’t bring quite as much intense tartness of most Sauv Blancs, but it’s decent.
Leitz Eins Zwei Zero Sparkling Riesling (around $6/250ml can, private wine stores)
Subtle lemon zest and tart apple notes come with a floral touch on the nose of this sparkling German wine. It’s medium-sweet and brings fun fizz, with juicy apple and lemon notes and some decent acidity that comes with the bubbles.
Thomson & Scott Noughty Syrah (South Africa — $23-28, private wine stores and The Søbr Market)
Ripe cherry and earth notes show well aromatically here, with hints of iron and red licorice coming through as well. It’s medium-plus bodied, chewy and with some sweetness, bringing ripe cherry, licorice and a touch of smoke with a hint of tannin. Better than most non-alcoholic reds.
Feragaia (Scotland — $47.99/500ml bottle)
A blend of “land and sea botanicals” made in the Scottish lowlands, it brings lovely pear, spice and melon flavours. And while the product isn’t meant to mimic whisky, there’s almost a hint of peatiness here as well that adds complexity. Very good.
Free Spirits — The Spirit of Bourbon (Marin County, Calif. — $54.99/750ml bottle)
There’s all manner of caramel and vanilla that comes through on this non-alcoholic tribute to bourbon, with a peppery finish that stands in for the long, warm burn of booze on the finish. Not for solo sipping, but more for making mocktails.
Crossip Blazing Pineapple (U.K. — $41.99/500ml bottle)
The Crossip line was crafted by a U.K. bartender, and the Blazing Pineapple is a perfect addition to tiki-type faux-cocktails, with loads of big tropical fruit flavours and lingering spice that brings some serious heat and adds complexity.
Monday Zero Alcohol Gin (Calif. — $54.99/750ml bottle)
Gin is perhaps the easiest booze to mimic, what with many of the flavours coming from botanicals in the first place. The Monday delivers them in spades, with lovely floral and spice notes that linger as well. Your faux gin and tonic is sorted.
Literary editor, drinks writer
Ben Sigurdson edits the Free Press books section, and also writes about wine, beer and spirits.
Updated on Saturday, January 14, 2023 11:01 AM CST: Fixes typo


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- Charles Hoskinson maintains that staking ETH appears like regulated merchandise.
- Cardano founder believes locking funds and centralization hurts the crypto trade.
- Coinbase CEO stands towards the SEC’s supposed intention to ban crypto staking.
Charles Hoskinson, the Cardano community founder, reinforces his earlier argument that the brand new Ethereum staking protocol appears “rather a lot like regulated merchandise,” taking sides with the US Securities and Trade Fee (SEC).
In a video shared on Twitter right this moment, Hoskinson argued that even when Cardano, Polkadot, Ethereum, and Avalanche, are all staking techniques, all of them have completely different modes of operation which will translate to various regulatory overhead.
The Cardano founder believes briefly giving up belongings to a different occasion to do some work on an individual’s behalf to generate income, as within the case of Ethereum appears like regulated merchandise.
Nevertheless, Hoskinson famous that Bitcoin and Cardano staking fashions are markedly completely different. He expressed that the custody of the underlying asset in Bitcoin is the hash sources, the precise work pillow. “The belongings nonetheless belong to you. You solely delegated them to the community work collectively to construct a block,” the Cardano founder contended.
These arguments started yesterday when Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase crypto alternate, tweeted a couple of rumor that the SEC was eliminating crypto staking for retail clients. Armstrong believed such motion could be a horrible path for the US.
Whereas the Coinbase CEO contended that staking was a vital innovation in crypto for permitting customers to take part in working open crypto networks, the Cardano founder expressed opposite views. He stated: “Locking funds, encouraging centralization, and poor protocol design hurts the entire trade.”
Hoskinson additional expressed contempt that each one proof of stake protocols could be lumped collectively ‘resulting from a elementary misunderstanding in regards to the info of operation and design.”

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A recent study conducted by the United Overseas Bank (OUB) suggests that Vietnamese consumers are increasingly turning to digital banking and modern payment methods, with convenience and speed as among the major factors cited for the preference.
The report, “ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study”, indicates a significant shift in the financial habits in Vietnam and underscores a burgeoning inclination toward mobile banking apps, e-wallets, QR code-based payments, e-commerce payment gateways, and digitally integrated debit and credit cards.
Paul Kim, Head of Personal Financial Services at UOB, acknowledges the enhanced digital proficiency among consumers in Vietnam, noting a considerable uptick in mobile app usage for financial activities.
Despite this digital lean, Kim observes that for complex or high-value transactions, including bank loan restructuring and insurance purchases, Vietnamese consumers still prefer the reliability of offline channels.
The study reveals a notable statistic: four in every five consumers utilize an e-wallet at least once a week, with many recommending the technology to peers. Momo leads as the e-wallet of choice, trailed by ZaloPay and VNPay in popularity.
Kim also reflects on the positive economic outlook among Vietnamese consumers, buoyed by robust economic growth, which appears to instill confidence in the present and future economic scenarios.
This sentiment outshines the general concern across ASEAN countries, where rising inflation and mounting expenses raise the specter of economic downturn. Nevertheless, there’s a collective embrace of the digital era among the ASEAN populace.
Optimism about financial prospects remains higher in Vietnam compared to its ASEAN counterparts, with 76% of Vietnamese respondents anticipating improved financial circumstances in the following year.
Financial worries, however, do persist, with 80% of consumers expressing concerns over their ability to save, afford essentials, maintain their lifestyle, and support their parents’ financial and health needs, leading to a more guarded approach to investment.
II Dong Kwon of Boston Consulting Group points to the internet’s proliferation as a catalyst for Vietnam’s 41% annual growth in online shopping and e-commerce over the past three years. This boom has propelled a surge in online payments, a trend Kwon predicts will not only persist but intensify in the future.


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When a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's eastern coast early Friday morning, we all feared a tsunami. But San Francisco gets earthquakes all the time, and we're not scared of a tsunami there. Why?
Clearwire, which provides the infrastructure for Sprint's 4G network here in the States, announced today that it'll be expanding 4G coverage to the three cities it needs to succeed: New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Finally, we New Yorkers can stop feeling inferior to Boise!
Seattle follows in the steps of eco-friendly San Francisco with a restriction on plastic shopping bags
By Matt RansfordPosted 04.07.2008 at 9:45 am 18 Comments
Seattle is poised to join the ranks of San Francisco and Ireland by imposing restrictions on the use of disposable shopping bags. The City Council vote on the proposal—expected to pass by a wide margin—will occur this summer and would take effect at the start of 2009. While Ireland and San Francisco have banned plastic bags outright, Seattle's proposal will instead impose a twenty-cent fee on every paper or plastic bag used by consumers at the point of sale. (The proposal also bans styrofoam food containers.)
Architects imagine what San Francisco might look like in 2108 (hint, we finally get those flying cars)
By Dawn StoverPosted 02.20.2008 at 2:54 pm 0 Comments
What will San Francisco look like 100 years from now? According to the winning entry in a "city of the future" contest, residents will live in a forest of sinuous towers.
IwamotoScott Architecture took home the $10,000 prize for its "Hydro-Net" design, which also envisions an underground web of carbon-nanotube-walled tunnels where people travel in hydrogen-fueled hover-cars.
By Merlin MannPosted 06.23.2005 at 2:00 am 0 Comments
A: Tagging is the act of assigning your own keywords to things online-photos, blog entries, bookmarks-so that you can easily categorize, locate, and share them in the future. One of the best examples is del.icio.us, which lets you save Web bookmarks to a page on the site instead of to a file stashed away on your computer. This way, you can access them from anywhere and let other people see what sites you like.


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CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple unleashed a slate of holiday products today, but the 27-inch iMac with a “Retina 5K” display stole the show.
Amid a lot of rumors and hoopla, Apple made the announcement at the company’s Infinite Loop headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. After the press event, I got a good look at the screen, and it’s one of those that you can stare at for a while, like a painting in an art gallery. An Apple employee showed me the desktop computer up close, and it looked like a glossy print photo magazine. He pointed out that in the vast landscape in the scene above, you can see a blade of grass.
The new computers should give Apple a nice bump. In the past year, Mac sales have been up 18 percent, while the larger PC industry shrank 1 percent.
Tim Bajarin, analyst at Creative Strategies, said the 27-inch iMac stood out as the best product that Apple showed today.
“The most impression engineering is the new iMac,” Bajarin said. “This is Apple’s engineering at its best. The fact that they created a special dedicated chip to handle all the pixels. If you’re a graphics professional or a video editor, you’re going to love that product.”
The screen has 5,120 horizontal pixels and 2,880 vertical. Apple calls that a Retina 5K display, making sure that everybody knows it has more resolution and pixels than Ultra HD, the 4K successor to high-definition TV. It will sell for $2,500. Apple noted that a 4K Ultra HD TV costs around $3,000.
It comes with a 3.5-GHz Intel Core i7 processor (upgradable to 4 GHz), 8 gigabytes of random access memory, and a 1 terabyte fusion hard drive. It also has a powerful Radeon R9 M290X graphics card with 3.5 teraflops of graphics compute power and 20 Gb per second Thunderbolt 2 bandwidth. The new iMac can display 14.7 million pixels on the screen at once, about seven times as much as a 1080p HDTV. It was pretty stunning to look at, particularly with display pictures and video. You could see the blemishes on a little boy’s face in a photo, and it was like you were looking at the real kid.
Apple last upgraded its iMac models in this size in 2012. Phil Schiller, Apple’s marketing chief, said at the press conference that Apple’s engineers created a special chip, a time controller, to process all of the data needed to draw the graphics on the giant screens. The screen has an Oxide TFT laye, a new material that enables faster pixel charging and an ability for each pixel to hold a charge longer. It also has “organic passivation, which reduces crosstalk and keeps the image sharp. It uses a new light-emitting diode (LED) backlight that uses 30 percent less energy.
“It is the world’s highest resolution display,” Schiller said. “It is a remarkable feat of engineering.”
Apple started using Retina displays in 2010 with the first iPad, and it has been refining them and making them in many different sizes ever since.
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Brushing aside jokes about intoxicated livestock, Alberta farmers are growing industrial hemp, a crop that has become more profitable than canola and other conventional products.
Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world. Unlike marijuana, which has a THC content of five to 10 per cent, the THC level in hemp is 0.3 per cent. meaning it is impossible to get high from the product.
A growing number of farmers are becoming interested in the profitability of this legal crop. Compared to canola which sells for about 18 cents a pound, hemp currently fetches 80 cents a pound on the market.
All parts of the plant can be harvested and used in food, textiles and building materials.
Although there is a strong business case for hemp, Brian Rozmahel, a farmer near Viking, Alta., received a lot of ribbing in the local coffee shop when his neighbours learned about his plans.
“Oh my cows will all be high and there was a lot of good-natured poking at me but also they certainly paid attention because it’s a great break in a rotation for even a conventional farmer,” he said.
“It’s something you can seed later in the season and it pays. It pays very well.”
– Read the entire article at CBC News.


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The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has partaken in the Pure Luxury Spring Edition 2023 event held in Moscow, Russia during this month. Reputed as one of the most exclusive B2B workshops hosted in the region, this event connected luxury travel suppliers with the Russian travel trade and professionals who cater to high-end clientele and VIP guests.
Since its inception in 2011, the Pure Luxury Spring Edition has become the ultimate platform for exhibiting the best in the luxury travel industry to a selected highly qualified audience. This year, the event took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Moscow in a glamorous scene where MMPRC’s PR agents for the region brought forward the luxurious destination of Maldives. During the event, they highlighted a range of products and services to buyers from travel companies in Russia, who are specialists in catering to luxury travel and VIP clients.
This event aimed to promote the Maldives as an ultra-luxe holiday destination for the Russian market that is an ideal choice for high net-worth individuals and affluent travellers in the region. This also aligns with the marketing strategy for the Russian market – currently the no.1 source market to the Maldives – which includes strengthening Maldives’ brand image through ambient outdoor advertisements, digital media campaigns and greater marketing of products and services.
In 2023, more than 28,000 arrivals have been recorded for the Russian market which positions it as the largest source market for the Maldives. MMPRC carried out 16 high-profile campaigns designated for Russia last year with a suite of new activities and campaigns planned for this year as well.


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owner Gabriel Leis doesn’t spend a lot of time online wondering if his restaurant is popular – he sees it in person most nights of the week.
“Our recognition comes just seeing people every night,” Leis says. “For us, it’s just seeing the same people and seeing the tables full almost every night of week.”
That popularity bore out on Mill Valley Patch this week, as Joe’s won the in Mill Valley, garnering 40 percent of the votes cast.
The win comes at a pivotal moment in Joe’s history, as Gabriel’s father Joe opened the restaurant at 382 Miller Ave. nearly 20 years ago. Joe, who passed away in 2003, opened the restaurant in October 1992, with his wife Marni scouring local church rummage sales and the Marin City flea market for religious iconography and kitschy Mexican tchotchkes, transforming a former greasy spoon diner into a shrine to all things Mexican, according to Joe’s website.
Despite strong competition from fellow 94941 stalwarts and the , Joe’s came out on top in our contest, a reminder to Leis that despite a slight hit from the recession and the short-term dip caused by the opening of several new restaurants nearby, people still love Joe’s diverse menu and inimitable atmosphere.
As for the 20th anniversary in October, Leis says the free food giveaway at the restaurant’s 10th birthday party didn’t go over so well, as customers instead opted to buy their own personal favorite dishes on the menu instead.
“But we’ll definitely do something to celebrate for sure,” He says. “I’ll come up with something.”


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According to the latest official statistics published by Facebook, the social networking website has over 750 million active users around the world. Fifty percent of their active user base is logged into Facebook on any given day. If your company has tried to use Facebook as a marketing channel to reach average consumers, odds are the results haven’t been as expected.
Using Facebook as a marketing channel isn’t yet a proven way to generate sales—I’ve written about this before. New research, however, indicates that there are new incentives for businesses to keep trying.
A recent study by Spectrem Group, a consulting and marketing firm specializing in affluent consumers, indicates that the number of millionaires on Facebook is increasing rapidly.
According to the study, the number of millionaires, defined as people that have at least one million dollars in net worth not including the equity of their principal residence, has nearly doubled in the past 9 months. (Approximately 46 percent of millionaires are now using Facebook.) Even more compelling is the increased usage of Facebook among ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWs)—UHNWs are generally characterized as having a net worth of $5 million to $25 million not including the equity value of their main homes.
Millionaires making a comeback
Despite the general state of the economy, millionaires continue to do well. During 2010, the number of millionaire households in the United States grew by 600,000 to a total of 8.4 million. This is a significant improvement considering that during the housing and financial crises in recent years millionaire households plunged by nearly one-third. If current trends continue, we should see a return to the peak number of millionaires—9.2 million households—within the next two years.
Selling to the rich
This rebound in the net worth of the most affluent segment of our society is important to small business owners. Selling to rich people is a good thing! They have large amounts of disposable income, can provide valuable referrals and connections and they aren’t as price sensitive as other segments of the population. Who wouldn’t want to sell to this type of customer?
Given the latest trends in Facebook usage, this can provide an effective channel to reach potential millionaire customers.
The rich are different
So what are millionaires doing on Facebook and how can you leverage their activities? They aren’t playing Farmville (well at least they usually aren’t). As would be expected, they are looking to be productive with their time. Educational and informative content in “user-friendly, consumable chunks” is popular among high net worth individuals with around 25 percent looking for this type of information on social networks.
As a small business, consider producing this type of information about your product or service. If what you sell doesn’t lend itself to this market, considering developing premium versions of what you sell. At the moment, the use of Facebook as a channel to target high net worth individuals is open. Over time, it will become saturated. You have a window of opportunity to establish a position and capture the attention of this very attractive customer base. Take advantage of it.
Don’t ignore the changing demographics
While Facebook may have a reputation as the place for your kids to “hang out” online, the reality of who uses Facebook is changing. The demographic profile of the newest users is far more attractive than the initial early adopters which consisted of college students with limited disposable income. Start selling now!


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Private jets aren't anything new for the filthy rich, but Mark Cuban's purchase made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. Not for its $40 million price tag, but for becoming the single largest e-commerce transaction ever. Yes, he bought his plane online.
The serial entrepreneur and TV personality is currently worth $2.3 billion, according to Forbes' list of billionaires.
You don't have to work at Oracle or Apple to be among the top-paid executives in the technology industry, but it helps.
|Outburst by angry Wells Fargo shareholder halts annual meeting|
|In Trump era, Rachel Maddow starts beating Fox News|
|'Star Wars: Episode IX' gets summer 2019 release date|
|This is America's least favorite airline (hint: it's not United)|
|Who knew Trump would go after Canada?|


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Remeber the flourish and fanfare when chip & pin was rolled out for UK credit and debit cards? It make us all safer from card fraud and remove the requirement for the shopkeeper to check a signature. Of course, it wasn’t widely mentioned that as C&P came in, liability for fraudulent transactions was quietly shifted from the card companies to the retailer.
Hmm… and you may have noticed, if you buy petrol at a Shell station, that C&P was rolled out a lot later there than other retailers. The reason for this is that some of their C&P terminals (that you put your card and pin into) were hacked to grab pin number and chip data, so that fraudulent cards could be made up and used. The C&P scheme was withdrawn until new secure terminals were rolled out.
Petrol giant Shell has suspended chip-and-pin payments in 600 UK petrol stations after more than £1m was siphoned out of customers’ accounts.
Eight people, including one from Guildford, Surrey, and another from Portsmouth, Hants, have been arrested in connection with the fraud inquiry.
The Association of Payment Clearing Services (Apacs) said the fraud related to just one petrol chain.
Shell said it hoped to reintroduce chip-and-pin as soon as possible.
That was more than 2 years ago and Shell has long since resumed using C&P. Similar things have happened to some other petrol retailers since.
Well, now it’s supermarkets as well. Today, late in 2008. Holy farking hell.
Detectives are investigating a sophisticated credit card fraud against customers of some of Britain’s biggest supermarkets that may be linked to extremists in Pakistan.
Fraudsters have targeted more than 40 stores in Britain, including those of Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s, in an elaborate scam that police say involves tiny devices inserted into the stores’ “chip and Pin” credit card readers.
Back at the time when chip & pin was first rolled out, I was deeply suspicious of the whole thing – the idea that a four digit number could replace something as unique as a signature. The idea that the element of you actually having to be there to sign the chit being remove didn’t sit comfortably with me. But like most, I rolled with it and waited for the bad new stories.
I’m done with it. Chip and pin can bite my ass. I’m paying cash from now on. It really is the only way to limit liability.
Taking the banking and finance world as a whole, the folly of the cashless society is really becoming clear.
Some other sources of woe about Chip-and-PinLaden:
One thought on “Chip-and-Pin-Laden”
Pingback: Cash is king « Al Jahom’s Final Word


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The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra has announced a special exhibition of photographs celebrating 60 years of women featured in Vogue Australia magazine.
Sony has released firmware updates for eight of its interchangeable-lens cameras, each promising improvements to improve overall stability.
Entries to this year’s Martin Kantor Portrait Prize will close at 11:59 a.m. on Friday, 31 May, 2019.
Nikon Australia has released new firmware to enhance the performance of its Z 7 and Z 6 full-frame mirrorless cameras.
Leading drones manufacturer, DJI, has released the Osmo Action, its first action camera, which comes with advanced image stabilisation and 4K 60p/50p recording capabilities.
Adobe has released a suite of significant updates for its Lightroom applications and added support for 14 new cameras to Adobe Camera Raw.
Epson Australia is calling for entries to The Epson International Pano Awards 2019, which has a prize pool valued at US$50,000.
Nikon has released firmware updates that add SnapBridge connectivity via Wi-Fi and include model-specific bug fixes.
Winners have been announced for the 15th Head On Photo Awards, which attracted thousands of entries from more than 30 different countries.
The first of six new lenses announced for Canon’s EOS R full-frame mirrorless cameras in February, the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, is scheduled for local release in June 2019.


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Netflix is reportedly set to begin developing video games as a part of its additions to the streaming service.
According to The Information "Netflix is looking to hire an executive to oversee an expansion into videogames". This is apparently "a sign it is stepping up its efforts to grow beyond traditional filmed entertainment, according to people familiar with the situation."
The full story is stuck behind a paywall, but Reuters has most of the key information. No job listing has gone up yet, but the report claims a number of game industry executives have been approached for the role.
This wouldn't be the first time Netflix has released a game-like experience, with Black Mirror's Bandersnatch episode offering choices for viewers.
Netflix has also worked with developer Bonus XP on Stranger Things 3: The Game and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics.
This shift would mark a major change for the company who has mostly kept away from working directly on games instead, adapting franchises for TV and film, such as The Witcher and Castlevania.
But, with Netflix producing more and more of its own content, it makes sense to see them want to produce a wider variety of that content as well. What games would you liked to see Netflix make, either based on its own IP or new IP?
For more articles like this, take a look at our Gaming News page.


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Application Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2015, 11:59 p.m. ET.
The Online News Association, the world’s largest membership organization of digital journalists,have applications for the 2015 MJ Bear Fellowships for early-career digital journalists, in honor of founding member MJ Bear.
The MJ Bear Fellowships identify and celebrate early-career digital journalists, working independently or for a company or organization, who have demonstrated — through professional experimentation, research or other projects — that they deserve support for their efforts and/or vision.
The fellows are up-and-coming journalists inside or outside the newsroom who are just beginning to make their voices heard in the industry and working to expand the boundaries of digital news.
The Online News Association is the world’s largest association of digital journalists.
Applicants must meet the following requirements at the time of application:
- Have been born between Sept. 26, 1985 and Sept. 25, 1992
- Be a working digital journalist (either for an organization or self-employed)
- Be fluent in English
- Be involved in a digital journalism project
- Full-time students are not eligible
Each Fellowship provides:
- Three online workshop sessions with a Personal Advisory Board.
- Registration, travel and accommodations for the Online News Association Conference & Awards Banquet
- Recognition at the ONA conference
- ONA membership, with three years’ dues paid in full
For More Information:


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Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, such as ethereum, XRP, and solana, have experienced a sharp decline despite a large $10 trillion bet on the bitcoin price. Subscribe to Forbes’ CryptoAsset & Blockchain Advisor to stay ahead of the market and uncover potential blockbuster investments.
The bitcoin price has dropped nearly 10% in the last 24 hours, causing a ripple effect on the prices of other top ten cryptocurrencies. This has resulted in a loss of around $100 billion for the combined crypto market, following the surge of a bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Legendary trader Arthur Hayes had previously warned about a potential 30% crash in the bitcoin price due to actions taken by the Federal Reserve. He predicted a “vicious washout” in the coming months, but also advised against taking on any additional risk until April.
The highly anticipated bitcoin halving is quickly approaching, which is expected to cause chaos in the crypto market. Stay ahead of the game by signing up for CryptoCodex, a daily newsletter for traders, investors, and those curious about crypto.
In 2022, the crypto market experienced a major crash that wiped out $2 trillion from the combined value of bitcoin, ethereum, XRP, solana, and other cryptocurrencies. This was largely attributed to the Federal Reserve’s response to rising inflation.
Sign up now for CryptoCodex and stay informed about all things crypto. Also, check out Forbes’ coverage of the sudden abandonment of the US dollar by countries like Iran and Russia, who have turned to bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The bitcoin price has rebounded since the 2022 crash, thanks in part to Wall Street’s efforts to launch a spot bitcoin ETF. The recent approval of several funds by the SEC has also contributed to the rise in the bitcoin price.
According to CK Zheng, chief investment officer at crypto hedge fund ZX Squared Capital, if there are any significant pullbacks in the short term, it could present a great opportunity to add more long positions.
Follow Billy Bambrough on Twitter for more updates on technology, finance, and economics. Billy has been covering the rise of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies since 2012 and is considered an expert in the field. Disclosure: Billy occasionally holds a small amount of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.


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While The Division 2’s Dark Hours raid’s difficulty has been a point of contention, especially for console players, developer Massive Entertainment says it currently has no plans to adjust the challenge.
As reported by VG247, the Dark Hours raid launched last week and it took five hours for the first PC players to complete it. However, console players could not complete the raid until the third day it was available.
Currently, over 7,000 PC players have completed the Dark Hours raid, while only 200 people have completed it on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This has caused many fans to speak out and request some changes to be made to the difficulty. Ubisoft even commented that “it is not outside the realm of possibility that tweaks will be made moving forward.”
Source: IGN Video Games All


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Many people love Portillo’s famous iconic chocolate cake, and now they will be able to express their love with it as well.
The fast, casual chain specializing in Chicago cuisine like hot dogs and Italian beef, which has branches in Merrillville, Homewood and New Lenox, is rolling out a heart-shaped version of its chocolate cake for Valentine’s Day .
The special limited-time holiday cake is for a good cause.
A total of $ 5 from the sale of each cake, between $ 15.99 and $ 16.99 depending on location, will be donated to No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit that fights child hunger in the States. -United.
“As a supporter of No Kid Hungry and believing that all children across America should have access to meals, Portillo’s is proud to partner with No Kid Hungry on this important initiative,” said Michael Osanloo, CEO from Portillo. “We look forward to bringing our delicious and famous chocolate cakes for a cause to our guests across the country.”
No Kid Hungry said the donation will come at a critical time.
“Children in the United States are going through an extraordinary time – one in four children could live with hunger today because of the coronavirus,” said Diana Hovey, senior vice president of corporate partnerships for No Kid Hungry. “We are grateful to Portillo for their support as we work to ensure that all children receive the healthy meals they need. “


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Remember that yoga game we saw at last night's madness-infused Kinect event? As it turns out, it's actually an Ubisoft-developed game entitled Your Shape. Microsoft featured the game during it's second pre-E3 event this morning, showing off a trailer with flying people and "Nick, the cardio coach"...
[My Yoga Online] Among the acrobatics displayed at tonight's Cirque du Soleil Kinect event, a demonstration was given of a yoga game where players emulate the actions of an on-screen instructor performing various Tai Chi and Yoga moves. Rather than the occasionally frantic actions of Wii Fit or...
Posted on Aug 25th 2014 8:00AM
Posted on Aug 22nd 2014 8:30PM
Posted on Aug 22nd 2014 11:00AM


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McLaren rules out switch to 2012 car
McLaren has ruled out the idea of reverting to last year's car, despite the difficulties it is facing with its ...
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Modu is working on a 3.5G touchscreen device for launch in the UK. The company says (with refreshing honesty) that the original Modu phone "isn't good enough for Brits and Americans". But it reckons its new handset will be.
Modu plans to unveil the Modu 2 at the yearly mobile phone beauty pageant Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2010. UK carriers have yet to be decided.
For folks who aren't happy prodding at their phone with their fingers, Modu will offer a QWERTY keyboard jacket for the Modu 2.
We were lucky enough to get our hands on the Modu handset before anyone else and we hope to do the same with the Modu 2. Keep your eyes on Stuff.tv for more news soon.
In the meantime you can see the original Modu and its jackets on video right here.
(via Pocket Lint)


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9 out of 10 CFOs high on 2014
The top money managers are more confident about U.S. economic growth next year than they were a year ago, according to a recent survey by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
CFOs polled by the bank expect their companies’ sales to increase in 2014 from both new and existing customers and nine of 10 CFOs said they would hire more workers or maintain current employment levels next year, the Charlotte Business Journal reports.
Some more findings from the study:
- 94 percent said they plan to implement at least one growth strategy.
- 54 percent said their 2014 sales will be higher than 2013.
- 37 percent expect sales to remain the same
- 8 percent expect sales to drop
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Celltel Networks, Roberta Annan Consulting (RAC) and the Chinese Government International Cooperation Corporation (CEIEC) have signed a protocol of collaboration to take part in the realization of the “Smart Cities” project of Ghana, whose budget implementation is estimated at US $ 300 million.
Under the agreement, the information platform itnewsafrica.comspecifies that the Ghanaian company Celltel Networks will act as designer of smart cities, RAC will act as a transaction consultant for CEIEC, while it will join the consortium of experts to carry out the project.
In a few days, the three partners will enter into a new partnership agreement, this time with the other partners in the “Smart Cities” project, which will be financed by a consortium of investment banks and private providers.
The project was designed to provide people with a set of value-added social services based on technology, access to a nationally affordable Wi-Fi network, and digitization of the administration.
According to Prince Kofi Kludjeson, founder and president of Celltel Networks, the company decided to invest in the “Smart Cities” project because it ” believes in the government’s Ghana Digital program, characterized by paperless services in all administrations of government, digital address systems and various electronic services such as online education, e-health, agriculture, online, etc . “


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SecuGen technology is helping to power the biometric capabilities of a new keyboard from Key Source International (KSI).
Dubbed the KSI-1700 UB, the keyboard features SecuGen’s U20 fingerprint sensor. That means the device is FIPS 201 compliant, allowing for sensitive public sector applications; while its FAP 20 certification should prove appealing to clients and users across a range of sectors. SecuGen’s fingerprint sensor is embedded into the top section of the keyboard, above the number pad.
In a statement announcing the new offering, KSI CEO Philip Bruno said his company opted for SecuGen technology because of its “strong reputation as an industry leader,” and because of the demand among KSI customers for “cost-effective, top-performing products that withstand the rigors of commercial use.”
The development signals a growing trend in PC electronics, with Microsoft also having recently launched a biometric keyboard, which features a fingerprint sensor embedded in one of the keys. But given that Microsoft’s device is aimed more at everyday consumers using its Windows 10 OS, and that the KSI-1700 UB is aimed at more security-sensitive applications and the public sector, there is still plenty of room for competition in this emerging market category.
August 15, 2017 – by Alex Perala


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The Marlins fan that became "famous" for being really out of place during the Kansas City Royals' run to the World Series is now donating his notorious jersey to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Laurence Leavy, better known as "Marlins Man," has attended many major sporting events, but he caught everyone's attention when he sat directly behind home plate wearing a Miami Marlins jersey throughout the MLB playoff games.
Sounds normal, except the Marlins weren't playing in any of those games. In a sea of blue, Leavy stuck out like a sore thumb in his bright orange jersey and everyone noticed.
He is putting the ensuing 15 minutes of fame to good use.
The infamous Marlins jersey and visor are up for auction on eBay with the proceeds going to charity.
The highest bidder will also receive tickets from World Series games one, two, five, six and seven. Leavy promises to take the winner to a Marlins-Giants game in either Miami or San Francisco and pay for travel and accommodations.
Sounds worth it, right?
Currently, the highest bid is $5,521. Free shipping, though.
Source: The Kansas City Star


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Appliances Rebate Program Begins In Illinois
April 16, 2010 (WLS) -- You can save a lot of money if you buy new, energy-efficient appliances in Illinois before April 25.
The state got $12 million for the program that gives people 15-percent discounts on the Energy Star appliances.
The program started at 8 a.m. Friday and will last until April 25 or until the $12 million is gone.
For more information, log on to www.illinoisenergy.org or call 877-782-7005.
Are you in the market for a new washer-dryer? How about an air conditioner unit heading into summer? The government wants to reward those buying energy efficient appliances for a limited time.
"It will help reduce energy costs," said Stephen Konya, Illinois Commerce & Economic Opportunity.
The Charbonneaus' old refrigerator died. They came to ABT Electronics Monday to see if their purchase would qualify for The Cash for Appliances program that started Friday.
"I probably would have bought it either way. It's nice to have the incentive," said Mark Charbonneau.
"You don't want to be here at eight on Friday. It's gonna be really crowded," said Linda Charbonneau.
In order to qualify, all purchases must be made at the store in person.
At Sears on State Street in downtown Chicago, associates were getting several inquiries about the rebates and had a plan to deal with Friday sales.
"We're going to give out numbers and serve people as we can. We expect to be as busy as Black Friday," said Tom Russell, Sears.
The rebate includes energy efficient washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and air conditioning room unit.
Other states have run out of rebate money in days. The state's spokesman expects rebate money to be available, but it is first come, first served.
There's another $75 rebate if your old appliance is recycled, in some cases.
Retailers interested in participating in the program can visit www.HelpGreenIllinois.org.
Copyright ©2010 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.


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In an innovative bid to prevent the waste of millions of leftover peas and encourage children to eat more greens, supermarket giant Tesco has commissioned its food scientists to develop a firmer, rounder and altogether larger variety of the perennial dinner plate staple.
The petit pois is, apparently, too difficult to eat and today’s children, whose culinary training often amounts only to the eating of convenience finger food, cannot be bothered to chase the elusive peas around the plate. A recent survey claimed to reveal that one fifth of all kids refused to eat any greens at all.
Richard Stride, frozen pea manager at Tesco, revealed that peas are now eaten almost exclusively by adults and he commented, “fast food culture doesn’t help because it encourages youngsters to eat using only their hands. Children now want burgers, chips and pizza, or food they can eat using just a fork.”


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We Spoke To A Montreal Restaurant About The Impact Of COVID-19 & How They’re Surviving
Montreal's neighbourhoods, known for their hustling vibrancy, continue to look very different from what we're used to.
Restaurants and bars, where we once gathered to escape the daily grind, celebrate a special occasion or enjoy good company, are — at least for the time being — not an option.
Businesses have had to pivot, not only out of desperation to stay afloat in uncertain times, but also to better serve their communities and customers during the COVID-19 crisis. But while times are challenging and the future is uncertain, it's encouraging to see brands lend a helping hand.
TurboTax Canada, for example, launched its Little Lifts campaign this year — an initiative that gives back to local businesses and communities that could use a little lift after an extremely taxing 2020.
One such business is Montreal's Singaporean street food destination, Satay Brothers. Speaking to Narcity about the impact COVID-19 has had on the restaurant, co-founder Alex Winnicki said finding ways to generate revenue and retain staff has been hard.
From adjusting the menu to make it more take-out friendly and adding merchandise, to opening seven days a week to provide staff with more shifts, Satay Brothers has had to think creatively about how to keep their doors open. One thing is for sure, it’s not been without help.
In partnership with TurboTax Canada, Satay Brothers has been able to provide a little lift to the Montreal community by developing meal kits of their delicious Singaporean street food. Fifty of these kits were then gifted to Montreal's frontline workers as a thank you for all their effort this past year.
TurboTax Canada also partnered with Satay Brothers to host a cook-along on Instagram live, where they prepared their meal kit alongside their loyal community in real time.
For Alex, supporting the community like this is what being in hospitality is all about. The best part of his job is meeting and interacting with people — something Satay Brothers and other local businesses have been without for nearly 13 months.
"Restaurateurs are your friends and neighbours, the backbone of your community," he told Narcity.
"Having customers come in to pick up food and chatting even for a couple minutes has helped our mental states more than people know," he said.
Customers have also missed the sense of community and kindness that comes from enjoying bars and restaurants in person, and are showing their support in all sorts of ways.
Where possible, customers are ordering takeout directly from restaurants instead of delivery apps, which helps restaurants make a bigger cut of revenue from each order. People are tipping more too, or purchasing merchandise and gift certificates.
Business owners like Alex say these are the best things customers can do right now to help support the local businesses that make our neighbourhoods feel like home.
It's been a taxing year, and these little lifts can have a big impact. And it's not only restaurants that can benefit from them.
Worrying about filing your taxes correctly can feel like just one more burden on top of an already difficult year. Thankfully, TurboTax can ensure taxes are filed correctly and confidently to maximize returns. And if you're your own boss, TurboTax can help with its Self-Employed products.
Navigating your way through all of the eligible tax credits and deducations can be a painful process if you're doing it on your own. That's why tax services like TurboTax make such a difference — especially if you're self-employed — in helping you find every last deduction and getting the best return.
Business owners and customers alike have felt the pressure of the last year, and no matter what you’re going through we can all appreciate a little lift right now.


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Best Homestyle/Comfort Food
When a restaurant’s social media hashtag is #cozzylove, it tells you something about the kind of joint it is. The Cozzy Corner has been serving up helpings of #cozzylove to customers since it opened in Appleton in 2012, so its no wonder the restaurant snagged the first place fork for Best Homestyle/Comfort Food.
“I think it reminds people of home. It reminds people of their grandparents and mothers and their good, old comfort food,” says Owner Natasha Banks of her restaurant which serves Southern food and barbecue with blues music on the side. For the true comfort food experience, Banks recommends the fried chicken, collard greens or red beans and rice (or all of the above). “The flavors are unique and unexpected, and the red beans have a little kick to them,” she says.
As of August 10, there’s been twice as much Cozzy love going around. That’s when Banks opened a second location in Kaukauna. She says requests from Kaukauna residents prompted her to open the second store. “We saw it as a good opportunity to spread out and serve more customers,” Banks says. The Kaukauna location has the same soulful vibe and menu as the flagship store in Appleton, but operates different hours. (Cozzy Corner Kaukauna is open Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Banks says the reception both restaurants have received from the Fox Valley community is nothing short of heartwarming. “We are truly grateful for the love we receive from our Appleton and Kaukauna customers,” she says. —ACW
Best Dine-In Deli
“I voted for New York Deli for the Best Dine-In Deli because I love their sandwiches. My favorite is the ham panini. Hubby loves the Reuben. I like the atmosphere as well. Great customer service!” — Gay Curtiss, Appleton


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Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is considering selling social networking site MySpace to internet search company Yahoo, the Times newspaper has claimed.
Rupert Murdoch reportedly senses an investment opportunity
The News Corp-owned newspaper said its parent firm was mulling offering some of its internet assets to Yahoo as part of a broader deal.
The Times said that News Corp would want a 25% stake in Yahoo in return for MySpace, which it bought for $580m.
Yahoo's direction is in question after chief executive Terry Semel quit.
MySpace could be a valuable tool in Yahoo's battle against internet search rival and market leader Google, analysts said.
New chief executive Jerry Yang, who co-founded Yahoo, has pledged to revive the business but some analysts believe the firm is now a bid target.
The Times said discussions over MySpace and News Corp investing in Yahoo were tentative and may lead to nothing.
Yahoo is currently worth $37bn, meaning that News Corp would need to pay in the region of $12bn for a 25% stake.
News Corp has invested heavily in its own internet presence in recent years but a stake in Yahoo would give it influence over one of the world's leading internet businesses.
Despite seeing profits fall and losing market share to Google, Yahoo still has more than 500 million users around the world.


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The Nasco Retail Store has closed its doors permanently, idling 46 employees as of Monday, June 1.
For decades, the Fort Atkinson farm and home outlet has been an anchor in Fort Atkinson’s retail sector, a go-to for educators and the public seeking a variety of products ranging from art and craft supplies and science kits to health, family and consumer education, farm and ranch products, and more.
However, product needs and shopping habits are changing, particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and Nasco must change with them, officials indicated.
“K-12 schools and students across the country have been impacted by COVID-19 as the schools have been forced to shut down and transition to distance learning,” Nasco Vice President of Sales Chris McLean said.
“Additional uncertainty surrounds what the back-to-school process will look like this fall. As a partner and provider to K-12 institutions nationwide, Nasco Education is both sensitive to and impacted by the evolving environment,” he added.
He noted that Nasco proudly has served the K-12 education industry for more than 75 years out of Fort Atkinson and will continue to do so.
“We are adapting to the changing needs, including expanding digital and distance solutions, SEL (social and emotional learning) solutions, and professional development for teachers,” McLean said. “We have had to make other changes in response, including the closure of the retail store. While we will no longer offer walk-in service via the retail store, we will continue to serve both local and national customers from our location in Fort Atkinson. Our Distribution Center, customer service and e-commerce (departments) all remain open and ready to serve.”
Nasco Education informed employees of the changes in a letter Thursday.
“Our customers’ environment is transforming, and we are transforming our business in response,” the letter reads. “This transformed business structure will drive changes in our structure and skill sets.
“While some of the transformation is exciting and positive, there are a number of aspects that are significantly more difficult. The most difficult of all are the decisions we must make which will impact our employee base,” it said.
The statement explains that as Nasco confronts not only the short-term impacts on the business from reduced revenue, but also must prepare for a future of complex, value-add solutions to customers, it has had to make some very difficult decisions, including permanent changes to the employee base.
Those changes include the permanent closure of the retail operations in Fort Atkinson.
“While we have always treasured this intimate relationship with our local community, closure of the store will allow us to dedicate our full focus and attention to the needs of our customers nationwide,” the statement said.
Nasco also will be decreasing the size of its Distribution Center staff “to align our capacity with the volume of expected work” and be making smaller changes in other departments “to align capacity and resource requirements.”
Impacted employees have been contacted by their managers, and Human Resources Department employees are working with each individual on supporting his or her transition, including outplacement services, access to benefits and severance, the statement said.
In 2017, Nasco combined its two outlet stores into one so it could expand its administration area. There reportedly are no plans right now for the store building at 801 Janesville Ave.
With the recent closure of ShopKo, the Nasco Retail Store was among the largest of Fort Atkinson’s 80 retailers.
Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carrie Chisholm said that this is a big loss for the community.
“It is heartbreaking to see a business like the Nasco store close, especially in a community where the employees are known by name as your friends and neighbors,” shesaid. “Mike Matley and his team at the Nasco Arts and Crafts Outlet have been a part of so many memory-making moments in Fort Atkinson. Science fairs and FFA projects and art classes all counted on the Nasco store’s treasure trove of resources. There truly was nothing else like it anywhere.
“We had our own ‘Little House on the Prairie’ general store, where you could literally find everything from horse bridles to children’s games to fine art supplies,” she continued. “It was akin to shopping in a magic house, as you never knew what delightful surprises you’d find in the next aisle.”
The chamber chief noted that this business also has played a key role in Fort Atkinson’s tourism industry, as buses coming for the Fireside Dinner Theatre performances often made stops at Jones Market and the Nasco Outlet Stores.
“When visitors inquired of chamber staff what they should see and do, we loved directing them to the Nasco Outlets. It was just a very unusual experience,” she said.
Chisholm said that while unfortunate, she is learning that closings such as this should not be unexpected, especially during this economic crisis.
“In 2019, more than 9,300 store closings occurred in ‘The Retail Apocalypse,’” Chisholm said. “Business Insider is estimating that as many as 12,000 major chain stores could close in 2020. Brick-and-mortar retailers have the most to lose, as they incur higher costs than online sellers, but they also are the first to support local causes and reinvest in their own communities.”
Chisholm pointed out that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the general public has had two months to shop from their sofas, but they need to realize the long-term affects of continuing that behavior.
“People will wonder if we couldn’t do more to save the Nasco store. We certainly couldn’t control the impact of nationwide school closures on Nasco’s bottom line,” Chisholm said. “But we do have a choice going forward about shaping the kind of community in which we want to live. Shopping, eating and recreating locally keeps these dollars in our own backyards.”
She reported that the chamber has sold almost $90,000 in local gift certificates in the last two months as area residents supported local businesses.
“We need people to get out and spend them, now, while businesses need a huge influx of cash,” Chisholm said. “Otherwise, we’ll be writing the eulogy of yet another local resource lost to COVID-19.”
Originally known as the National Agricultural Supply Co., Nasco’s roots date back to 1936 when Fort Atkinson High School vocational agriculture teacher Norman Eckley became frustrated by the scarcity of visual teaching materials and a central source for buying agricultural teaching supplies. After three years of research, he queried county agents in 1939, asking whether they would support a one-order service that offered all the hard-to-find technical agricultural items from one source. The answer was a resounding “yes.”
Nasco was established to fill that need, with its first printed catalog distributed in 1940. The post-World War II accelerated interest in farm technology and the GI training program boosted Nasco’s sales. In 1947, Hugh Highsmith and Leo W. Roethe took the helm of Nasco and launched a major expansion program. During that time, Nasco became an official supplier for purebred livestock associations, supplying hundreds of promotional items, and then it added equipment for artificial breeding, DHIA, veterinarians, crops and soil testing, horticultural and agronomy supplies.
From its start in a two-car garage, Nasco has grown to an enterprise publishing more than 35 different catalogs, with an annual circulation exceeding 5 million, to customers in education, agriculture, health-care training, and lab sampling worldwide featuring materials available for a wide array of educational, training, and production needs. It leads the marketplace in educational kits, STEM/STEAM, dissection, agriculture, lab sampling and health-care education products.


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SUN HEATING TEC Inc. (SHT), a Chinese renewable energy company that pioneered solar hot water collectors, has joined the Palm Springs iHub and will relocate a robotic assembly line to the Coachella Valley, the company founder, Jeff Cheng, announced today at the board meeting of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, which manages the Palm Springs iHub.
Mr. Cheng learned about the Palm Springs iHub when SHT began supplying tube assemblies for solar thermal systems to SunUp Energy, another company in the iHub incubator program. SHT has taken office space in the iHub and will occupy 5,000 square feet in the Accelerator Campus, where it will create at least 15 medium- to high-skilled jobs within two years. These employees will be involved in robot maintenance and programming, assembly, sales, and fulfillment.
“Sun Heating Tec is an excellent fit for the Palm Springs iHub and Accelerator Campus,” says Joe Wallace, CVEP interim CEO and chief innovation officer. “Their products are already being used by an iHub company that knows the markets they want to enter. The iHub program will help Sun Heating Tec with risk mitigation, offering start-up space with standard office equipment, access to a Foreign Trade Zone for exports, and a low-risk pilot production location. We’ll also help them establish credit and assimilate into the U.S.-style business culture.”
“Sun Heating Tec will spare no effort in providing the best clean energy products to installers, contractors, project developers, dealers, and distributors worldwide so as to help households and businesses reduce their energy bills and protect the environment,” Cheng said in a prepared statement. “The Palm Springs iHub enables us to enter the U.S. market with a low level of risk and a high level of support.” Visit www.sunheatingtec.com for more information.


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The $7.8 million settlement announced Friday is with CoreLogic Inc., formerly The First American Corp., whose subsidiary was eAppraiseIT.Read More »
Monthly Archives: September 2012
Research by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy found that of thousands of online pharmacies it reviewed, only about 3 percent follow state and federal laws.Read More »
The parent company of real estate firms Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Corcoran Group and several others is going public. Parsippanny, N.J.-based Realogy Holdings plans to issue a $1 billion initial public offering of 40 million shares of common stock, according ...
Tagged with: Apollo Global Management Apollo Management Century 21 Coldwell Banker Corcoran Group Initial public offering IPO New Jersey New York Real Estate Realogy Holdings shares of stock stock exchange stock market stocks Wall StreetRead More »
JFK Airport security workers charge they’re often rushed to complete searches of planes for items left behind by passengers. The New York Times says the allegations are contained in a formal complaint set to be filed with the Transportation Security ...Read More »
Health care products company Henry Schein Inc. said Thursday that it has acquired a majority stake in Canadian dental software company The Exan Group. The financial terms were not disclosed. Henry Schein said that the deal will expand its business ...Read More »
Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company is “extremely sorry” for the frustration that its maps application has caused and it’s doing everything it can to make it better. Cook said in a letter posted online Friday that Apple “fell ...Read More »


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LATEST NEWS: HDPE film offers below $1100 CIF emerge in China
A trader who was offered Saudi HDPE film at $1070/ton CIF, cash commented, “The local market has declined sharply and players are still not sure whether the bottom is near. Trading activity is quite limited. Hence overseas suppliers are willing to apply notable drops on their offers.”
A second trader also reported that he received an HDPE film offer from a Saudi supplier at $1060/ton CIF, cash.
He opined, “A major Saudi producer is yet to announce its December PE offers to China and we are surprised that other producers have already reduced their offers significantly. Uncertainty is growing in the market amid plunging crude oil futures and the US-China trade war.”
The overall range for import HDPE film prices is currently quoted at $1060-1175/ton on CIF China, cash basis.
More free plastics newsPlastic resin (PP, LDPE, LLDPE ,HDPE, PVC, GPS; HIPS, PET, ABS) prices, polymer market trends, and more...
- European PP, PE buyers sideline ahead of further drops in June
- China’s April PE imports fall to around 1 million tons, lowest since 2018
- Vietnam’s polymer markets buckle under an influx of Chinese cargoes
- Divergence grows between Egypt’s import and local PP, PE markets
- PP markets in China, Vietnam hit 3-year lows, readying to test new lows
- African PE, PP markets extend slide into May
- Asian PS, ABS markets at 2½-3-year lows amid Chinese oversupply
- India’s Q1 PVC imports hit record-high; did buyers rush to stock up before expected restrictions?
- LDPE prices move below LLDPE, HDPE on global lethargy
- Slide deepens in Middle Eastern PP, PE markets through May


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By Tom Cheyney, Small Times Senior Contributing Editor
October 16, 2007 — After successful applications in the automotive, medical, and industrial markets, micromachined motion and voice sensors have begun to ride what Benedetto Vigna calls the “MEMS consumerization wave.” Citing the successful integration of multiple-axis devices in such products as Nintendo’s Wii game console and emerging markets with unit-volumes ranging in the hundreds of millions to billions of pieces per year, the STMicroelectronics executive noted the adoption of accelerometer and silicon microphone devices by a growing number of consumer OEMs over the past two years: “Motion sensors are revolutionizing the way people use handheld devices.” Vigna’s comments came during his presentation at the recent International MEMS/MST Industry Forum, held in conjunction with Semicon Europa in Stuttgart, Germany.
To catch and stay on the fast-changing consumer product wave, successful MEMS companies must learn how to manufacture increasingly miniaturized devices in high volumes with quick product turnarounds, according to Vigna. STMicro’s recently opened 200-mm state-of-the-art development and production facility near Milan, Italy represents an investment of several hundred million Euro, but is “the most economically viable solution” for consumer applications, he said. Other reasons noted for making the transition from 150- to 200-mm wafer processing included better access to leading equipment suppliers, both in terms of best-in-class tools and the higher quality of service that comes with them.
The ramp of the new manufacturing facility has not been without its challenges. Vigna said that product and technology teams have had to deal with an assortment of equipment, process integration, and yield issues, leveraging STMicro’s chipmaking expertise where they could. “It was very, very difficult at times. Some problems were known, others were discovered along the way,” he said.
The company has several new processes running in the fab, including Vensens, a technology that creates a very thin monolithic monosilicon sensor with a micron-sized hermetic air cavity and 10-micron membrane, without the need for silicon membrane–glass/silicon-wafer bonding steps. In the packaging area, he described “a LEGO approach for fast time to volume,” where STMicro uses building-blocks of MEMS as well as analog and digital semiconductors to achieve small-form-factor, system-in-package devices.
One key advantage of the fast-growing silicon microphone consumer segment is the devices’ ability to be fabricated on CMOS lines, according to Troy Chase of Akustica. He believes that fabless MEMS companies can benefit from distributed “cost of fab facilities and processes across a broader and larger group of users,” which then results “in a greater variety of products with faster time to market.”
Chase explained that “Akustica’s CMOS MEMS is a standard process that allows MEMS products to scale up in manufacturing capacity, scale down in die and product size, and scale across into different MEMS applications.” Akustica’s post-CMOS MEMS processing steps employ standard semiconductor front- and backside dry plasma etching processes, which have been demonstrated in 12 different technology nodes from nine different foundries, he claimed. As further evidence of the inherent scalability of its product line, Chase stated that the company will soon ship its two-millionth device, only three months after hitting the million-unit mark, which took 15 months to achieve after the microphone product launched last year.
“The long-term success of the foundry model in the MEMS market depends on two main factors: the higher complexity of the technologies involved and the emergence of high-volume applications,” said Volker Herbig of analog/mixed-signal foundry X-FAB. He cited several historical differences between MEMS and semiconductor manufacturing, such as the uniquely specific processes of many MEMS products as well as their more demanding test/assembly/packaging steps. He then pointed out the clear trend toward increased CMOS-MEMS integration, which will make it difficult for pure-play MEMS foundries to “address the market segment due to the high entrance barriers involved,” including the smaller contract manufacturers’ lack of 200-mm manufacturing capability. Analog/mixed signal foundries and IDMs will be increasingly able to compete, using their comprehensive “customer-owned tooling technology” model to profitably fabricate CMOS-integrated MEMS-enabled sensors for a growing number of fabless companies.
Herbig said X-FAB has developed application-specific approaches for the MEMS space and has started several business-development projects with MEMS customers. He expects that part of the company’s portfolio to “double in the next three years.”


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Indian stock market indices have recovered some losses but are still trading weak. IT and FMCG stocks are witnessing the maximum losses. However, stocks in Consumer Durables and Realty space have bucked the trend and are trading in the positive.
The BSE-Sensex is down by 80 points while NSE-Nifty is trading 12 points below yesterday's closing. BSE Midcap and BSE Small cap indices are up by 0.4% and 0.1% respectively. The rupee is trading at 44.50 to the US dollar.
Telecom stocks are trading firm led by Tata Teleservices and Tata Communication. As per a leading daily, the mobile phone companies have started slashing dealer margins on recharge coupons and are changing voice and text tariffs in some regions. Leading telecom operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular have reduced dealer commissions by 30% in Mumbai circle over the last few weeks. The commissions on the first recharge are down to Rs 35 from the earlier Rs 50 on a sale of Rs 110. The other smaller operators are likely to follow suit. This is being seen as a step to deal with loss in revenues and resultant fall in profitability. These commissions on recharges account for nearly 3% of the industry’s revenues of about Rs 1,070 bn. The industry is likely to benefit to the tune of Rs 10-20 bn as a result of the said development.
Auto stocks are trading mixed with Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors trading firm while M&M and Hero Honda are trading weak. As per a leading financial daily, 1QFY12 (first quarter of financial year 2011-2012) results for four wheeler companies are likely to be impacted as a result of lower than expected volume growth due to weakened demand and high raw material costs. However, top line growth is expected to be better on the back of upward price revision by companies during the quarter. Average sale of the industry is expected to grow by 16-18% YoY during the quarter while average net profit is expected to grow by 10-12% YoY. On the other hand result of bike manufacturers is expected to be robust as a buyers moved to fuel efficient motorcycles. While most two-wheeler companies increased prices of their vehicles by 1-2% on account of higher prices of steel, rubber and other metals, they did not pass on the full burden to their customers. This helped keep demand strong and the two-wheeler industry insulated from the tough macro economic conditions.


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Melksham, England — Avon Rubber P.L.C. has completed the acquisition of 3M's ballistic protection business. Part of advanced materials business, the unit includes lines of ballistic helmets, body armor, flat armor and related helmet-attachment products for law enforcement.
In August, when the English rubber company originally disclosed its plans to purchase the unit, it valued the deal at $91 million and noted that the total could increase by $25 million depending on the outcome of pending contract bids.
In its latest news release, Avon did not disclose the final value of the deal.
Avon, which already supplies protection masks to the U.S. and global military and law enforcement forces, said in August that the acquisition represented "a very attractive opportunity."
"Incorporating the business into the Avon Protection portfolio will allow (us) to expand more rapidly into rest of world military and law enforcement markets," CEO Paul McDonald said in a statement.
The ballistic-protection business has annual global sales of approximately $85 million. 3M said it will focus on other businesses within its Advanced Materials division.
The division, a part of 3M’s Transportation & Electronics Business Group, makes products from fluoropolymers, ceramics, glass bubbles and other highly engineered materials.


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Maldives becomes partner country of ITB trade fair 2016
The Maldives has become the partner country of the ITB Berlin Convention for 2015.
Abdulla Ziyath, managing director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Company (MMPRC), signed the partnership contracts on March 5 on behalf of the Maldivian government, whilst Exhibition Director David Reutz signed on behalf of ITB Berlin.
“During the one year marketing partnership we want to attract 1.9 million visitors to the Maldives, which represents an increase of some 8%,” said Mohamed Khaleel, Chairman of the MMPRC.
Khaleel said the aim was to attract these tourists predominantly from the mid-market segment in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.
Referring to the government’s “Thumburi” resort development project, which envisions between 20 and 30 hotels with bed capacities ranging from 25 to 100, Khaleel said the project was intended to provide additional capacity for mid-range tourism.
The government expects the project would also create 4,000 new jobs, he said.
From 2017 onward, Khaleel said the Maldives would have the capacity for 200,000 additional visitors. The Maldives delegation led by MMPRC MD Ziyath consists of 194 representatives from 75 companies.
The annual InternationaleTourismus-Börse (ITB) Convention is the world’s leading travel and trade show.
“Starting from 10th March 2015 till the beginning of ITB 2016, Maldives together with ITB will be promoting the event on different media platforms,” explained MMPRC in a press statement.
“The Managing Director of MMPRC, has stated that it as an honor to be the official partner country of ITB 2016 especially as it marks the 50th Anniversary of the fair. As the official partner country, Maldives will be the main focus of the fair.”
The MMPRC is also planning to launch a destination marketing campaign titled ‘Visit Maldives Year 2016’ to coincide with 50th anniversary of the country’s independence. The year-long campaign would feature national and international events, MMPRC said.
The introduction of direct flights from Germany in the 2015 winter season is also expected to give a further boost to the Maldivian tourism industry.
“Currently, when flying to our country, 90% of our guests have to make a stop-over in the Middle East,” explained ‘Champa’ Hussain Afeef of the Maldives Association of the Tourism Industry (MATI).
German national carrier Lufthansa has now included Malé in its network and announced the introduction of twice-weekly Frankfurt-Malé flights in December 2015.
Afeef expressed confidence that the new flights would improve the situation significantly.
In 2014, Germany was the second largest source market for the Maldivian tourism industry, with 98,328 arrivals. In January 2015, German arrivals to the Maldives grew by 8.7%, representing a market share of 7.3%.
A total of 7,093 German tourists visited the country during the month.
“There have recently been some negative reports about protests in Malé,” Khaleel observed.
“We are a growing nation, and everyone here knows how important tourism is for us. The problems must be resolved, and we shall do all we can to maintain security and to ensure that this sector, the backbone of our economy, is not put at risk in any way.”


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Money-laundering watchdog to clamp down on cryptocurrencies
The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force will tell countries to tighten oversight of cryptocurrency exchanges to stop digital coins being used to launder cash.
FRANKFURT/LONDON- Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin are set to be subjected to rules to prevent their abuse for money laundering, a global watchdog will announce on Friday, the first worldwide regulatory attempt to constrain the rapidly growing sector.
The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a coalition of countries from the United States to China, will tell countries to tighten oversight of cryptocurrency exchanges to stop digital coins being used to launder cash.
The move reflects growing concern among international law enforcement agencies that cryptocurrencies are being used to launder the proceeds of crime.
Simon Riondet, head of financial intelligence at Europol, the European police agency that coordinates cross-border investigations, told Reuters he saw a growing use of cryptocurrencies in laundering criminal money.
Earlier this year, Europol broke up a Spanish drugs cartel that laundered cash using two crypto ATMs, machines that issue cryptocurrencies for cash.
Riondet said cryptocurrencies were used to transfer money across borders, as well as to break down large criminal money transfers into smaller amounts that are harder to detect.
“We also have some investigation on the dark web in which the payments are made in cryptocurrencies, sometimes in bitcoin, and they are switching it to more anonymised cryptocurrencies,” he said.
So-called privacy coins such as Monero allow users to conceal nearly all details of transactions.
The move by the FATF comes amid heightened concern about a sector, championed by some as a means of shaking off government controls, but seen by central banks as a potential threat to their status as guarantors of the financial system.
Earlier this week, Facebook prompted criticism from regulators and policymakers when it unveiled its plans for a cryptocurrency it dubbed Libra.
Three European central bankers have claimed oversight over Libra to ensure it would not jeopardize the financial system or be used to launder money.
Germany’s central bank chief, Jens Weidmann, said virtual tokens pegged to official currencies, known as stablecoins, could undermine banks if they become widely used.
The FATF marks the first attempt to establish a global approach in regulating the $300 billion coin trading market, supplementing a current patchwork ranging from Japan’s move to license exchanges to an outright ban in China.
Global Digital Finance, an industry body that represents crypto-related companies worldwide, said it welcomed the FATF rules. But Teana Baker-Taylor, its executive director, said FATF recommendations to compel firms to include in cryptocurrency transactions details of senders and beneficiaries could be difficult to meet.
“We are obviously going to comply,” Baker-Taylor told Reuters. “The challenge is asking for something that there is the technical facility to do.”
There is little available data on the scale of money laundering using cryptocurrencies. Given the relatively small scale of the coin market, it is likely to be a fraction of money laundering using cash.
Although digital coins do not have the complete anonymity once believed - their movement can be traced on the blockchain technology that underpins them - numerous loopholes exist on identifying beneficial ownership.
Some cryptocurrency exchanges are seen to have lax standards on checking users’ identities, or verifying the source of funds.


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Investors flooded social media platforms such as Reddit on Friday with criticism of Ryan Cohen’s sale of his stake in Bed Bath & Beyond Inc, blaming him for helping fuel a meme stock rally only to then walk away with a $60 million profit.
The billionaire investor disclosed on Thursday he had sold his 9.8% stake in the struggling home goods retailer almost five months after amassing it and pushing for changes. In response to Cohen’s investment, the company ousted its chief executive, changed some board directors and agreed to explore shedding its baby products unit.
Cohen stands to earn a profit before taxes of between $55 million and $60 million on the stock sale, according to a Reuters review of regulatory filings and a person familiar with the matter.
Cohen did not offer a reason for the u-turn and did not respond to requests for comment.
He built a following last year of loyal individual investors who bet on his turnaround of video game retailer GameStop Corp , some of whom expressed fury and disbelief after they followed his lead on Bed Bath only to see him abruptly cash out.
Cohen sold his Bed Bath stock on Tuesday and Wednesday after it rose 300% in August amid a speculative rally in meme stocks, a popular reference to shares traded by investors mostly based on hype in social media rather than their economic fundamentals.
Bed Bath & Beyond shares fell 20% on Thursday after filings revealed Cohen planned to sell his shares. The stock tumbled another 40% on Friday after filings late the day before showed that Cohen had sold all of his shares.
The stock last traded at $11.20, down from an intra-day high of as much as $30 on Wednesday.
Bed Bath call option owners on Friday lost $314 million in the value of their options, according to Matt Amberson, principal at options analytics firm ORATS.
Call options convey the right to buy shares at a fixed price in the future and as such are a popular vehicle for retail investors looking to place leveraged bets in hopes of outsized gains.
Ryan Bennett, a 43-year-old agriculture worker in Beloit, Wisconsin, told Reuters he lost more than $40,000 because he followed Cohen in buying Bed Bath shares.
“I feel I took my hard-earned money out of my pocket and put it right into Cohen’s,” Bennett said.
Bed Bath said in a regulatory filing on Thursday it was working with external financial advisors and lenders on strengthening its balance sheet, an admission that it needs to raise capital to stay afloat. The company had a mountain of long-term debt totaling $1.38 billion and only $107.5 million in cash as of the end of May, according to its most recent financial disclosure.
The investor reaction raises questions over whether Cohen will continue to exert strong influence over meme stock loyalists. On Wallstreetbets, the Reddit forum frequented by such investors, some lamented their losses and Cohen’s role.
“After reading what Ryan Cohen just did, I hope you all understand that he is not one of us,” wrote one poster, going by the name of Ronpm111.
Shares of GameStop, in which Ryan holds a 12% stake and serves as chairman, have dropped 20% since he disclosed his Bed Bath stock sale. This raised questions among many investors, including Bennett, over whether Cohen’s stock sale at Bed Bath will weigh on GameStop’s status as a meme stock.
“I don’t know if I can trust him to hold a stake in GameStop. I’ll probably be looking to exit that,” Bennett said.
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A new video from Democratic independent expenditure group Priorities USA takes aim at Mitt Romney.
A new video from independent expenditure group Priorities USA takes aim at Mitt Romney and signals the beginning of digital media spending by such organizations around the 2012 election.
According to the Federal Election Commission, the group, which is dedicated to helping President Obama win reelection, spent more than $60,000 on web ad production and digital media costs in October to fight Mitt Romney, assuming he'll be the Republican presidential nominee.
Priorities USA, the left's answer to groups like American Crossroads on the right, can raise unlimited funds and must disclose when they engage in communications for or against a federal candidate.
Priorities USA posted a web video to YouTube on November 1 targeting Romney and his stances on Wall Street regulation, home foreclosures, medicare, and social security, as well as his track record on job creation while governor of Massachusetts.
Another video from the group posted in October directs viewers to sign a petition at TheRomneyRule.com, which redirects to the Priorities USA Action website. The group claims the "Romney Rule" would reduce taxes on millionaires while increasing taxes on the middle class.
Organizations like Priorities USA can be expected to act as proxies for the official Obama for America campaign and the Democratic National Committee, though they are legally unable to coordinate with them. At this stage in the election cycle, they are using things like web ads and video to build supporter lists, and test how messages resonate in the hopes of gathering data to put to use when the campaigns ramp up in 2012.
On the right, Tea party groups Freedomworks for America and Our Country Deserves Better PAC have spent this year on web ads and video opposing President Barack Obama.
According to FEC reports, Priorities USA spent $60,600 in October with Global Strategy Group on "Media Web Advertising Production Costs," and digital advertising, specifically to oppose Mitt Romney.
An interesting sidenote: A television spot from Priorities USA released in June uses stock footage of a young redheaded girl who is also featured in a web video from former Republican primary candidate Tim Pawlenty.
Kate Kaye was Managing Editor at ClickZ News until October 2012. As a daily reporter and editor for the original news source, she covered beats including digital political campaigns and government regulation of the online ad industry. Kate is the author of Campaign '08: A Turning Point for Digital Media, the only book focused on the paid digital media efforts of the 2008 presidential campaigns. Kate created ClickZ's Politics & Advocacy section, and is the primary contributor to the one-of-a-kind section. She began reporting on the interactive ad industry in 1999 and has spoken at several events and in interviews for television, radio, print, and digital media outlets. You can follow Kate on Twitter at @LowbrowKate.
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October 13, 2015
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November 12, 2015


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Yep, the headline says it all, pretty much. The worlds of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint and The Terminator are colliding, starting today.
Breakpoint players have the opportunity to take part in the game’s first live event. The aim? Prevent the Terminator from destroying Skell Technology in two new missions – and unlock iconic, limited time customisation items while you’re at it!
The event, playable solo or in co-op, involves multiple mission settings, enemies and dialogues, and they’ve all been inspired by the original 1984 movie.
The event will be available for all players starting today at 8PM (AEDT) on PS4 and Xbox One, and is set to run through to February 6.


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In the midst of a beta test gone wrong, Facebook Inc. today acknowledged that it's trying out Facebook Lite -- a simplified version of the uber popular Facebook social networking site.
In an e-mail response to queries from Computerworld , A Facebook spokesperson said the company had invited way too many users to start testing the new system yesterday. With the rush of traffic, the site crashed, leaving the testers with nothing more than a broken link.
Facebook called the the new bare-bones version a fast-loading, easy-to-use version of the social network that's designed for people either new to social networking or in an area with limited broadband access.
"We are currently testing a simplified alternative to Facebook.com that loads a specific set of features quickly and efficiently," said the spokesperson. "Similar to the Facebook experience you get on your mobile phones, Facebook Lite ... enables people to make comments, accept Friend requests, write on people's Walls, and look at photos and status updates."
Facebook took the market share lead in the social networking business earlier this year, and has made several moves in recent days it hopes can help it stay there.
Analysts speculate that both moves show that Facebook is looking to become a social networking hub where users can go to see posts, photos and tweets from all of their favorite sites.
The social networking site is riding high this year. Facebook recently captured its 250 millionth user, and in June the Nielsen Co. reported that Facebook use had grown 700 per cent year-over-year, making it easily the most popular social networking site.


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Windows has been favorite OS of the majority of computer geeks in the world and the reason is obvious: simplicity and a great user interface. Anything we want to do with Windows can be easily achieved, thanks to the developers and the team behind Windows. Today we will guide you how to let Windows launch your favorite program in full screen or maximized mode every time you launch it.
Microsoft tends to improve its major OS i.e Windows in each of its upcoming release. Windows 10 was released earlier last year and with its release, free upgrades were offered to users of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. This free upgrade gesture was appriciated very well by Tech sector. Similar kind of path is seen in case of Apple, which releases major update of its OS X, now known as macOS and offer it free to all its Mac owners.
Windows 10 is the latest version of Windows currently available for users. Microsoft has improved its new OS a lot by fixing the shortcomings of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Furthermore, the best thing about Windows 10 is that it is available as free upgrade for people who already own a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1.
Despite new versions of Windows released at regular intervals from software giant, some of the common error that were in there in previous versions can still be found in latest Windows. A live example of this is “Failed to Connect to Windows service” error that was faced by users of Windows 7, is still there to tease Windows 10 users.